ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 28: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys embraces Micah Parsons #1 of the Green Bay Packers after a tie game in overtime at AT&T Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
It is no secret that the NFC teams not only hold the past two Super Bowl winners, but that they may also be home to three of the most competitive divisions this year, and although the NFC South might look like the weakling of the bunch, is it? The 2026 NFL Draft may have shaken up the balance of power.
The NFC did hold some of the more interesting stories of the draft, from the Philadelphia Eagles jumping the Pittsburgh Steelers for the USC slot wide receiver to the Los Angeles Rams announcing “they're good” for this year and selecting quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. Did the Seattle Seahawks get the steal of the draft (spoiler alert, I think so)?
So, let’s see how each division in the NFC did with their draft day picks.
The NFC East is home to draft day wizard Howie Roseman, new head coach John Harbaugh, and the unpredictability (although not so much this year) that is Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. The Washington Commanders will attempt to recreate the rookie magic of quarterback Jayden Daniels without the orchestration of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
The Eagles entered the draft with rumours of the eventual departure of wide receiver A.J. Brown, and their drafting did nothing to dispel the rumours. General Manager Howie Roseman continued to do Howie Roseman draft-manipulation-type things, including trading for Jonathan Greenard, filling areas of need, and doing so with eight draft picks.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Makai Lemon #6 of the Southern California Trojans jumps over the tackle of Ore Adeyi #7 of the Northwestern Wildcats during a 38-17 win over the Northwestern Wildcats at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 07, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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It is no secret that the Micah Parsons-less Cowboys’ defense was not very good last season. The finished 31st in yards allowed per play (6.1), 32nd in points allowed per game (30.1), had the seventh fewest sacks (35) and the third fewest interceptions (6). So, the assignment going into the draft was to concentrate on the defensive side of the ball, and with five of their seven picks, the Cowboys did just that, including trading up in the first round for a pivotal piece to their secondary.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Caleb Downs (C) of Ohio State pose with Gary Downs (R) and Tanya Shorter Downs (L) prior to the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The Giants had seven picks in the draft, two of which were in the first round, the second came after getting the Bengals’ first-round selection in the Dexter Lawrence trade.
Coming into the 2026 season with a defense that last season allowed the seventh most points per game (25.8), the second most rushing yards per game (145.3), had the ninth fewest interceptions (9), and only collected 39 sacks, the Giants began the draft not with a pick of need but with the best player available, fortunately it was Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. They then collected an offensive tackle to help second-year quarterback Jaxon Dart. In their remaining rounds, the Giants went about the yeoman work of filling in positions of need.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 15, 2025: Malachi Fields #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish carries the ball during the second half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Quarterback Jayden Daniels missed 10 games last season. The 5-12 Commanders did not recover. Although the team finished first in rushing yards per game (156.4), they were 21st in points per game (20.9) and 24th in passing yards per game (184.1). And then there was the defense, which only scooped up eight interceptions (26th), was 13th in sacks (42), and allowed the sixth most points per game (26.5).
The draft was a chance for the oldest roster in the league (average 28 years, seven months,s and four days) to not only get younger on the defensive side of the ball but to acquire talent. With only six picks in the draft, including none in the second or fourth round, it was a tall ask.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Sonny Styles (R) of Ohio State talks with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) after being selected seventh overall pick by the Washington Commanders during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Home of the defending Super Bowl Champions and the current betting favorite to be the 2026 Super Bowl Champions, the West is formidable. The question is, did the draft help or hurt the teams in the West?
By virtue of being the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Seahawks were relegated to picking last in every round, and they entered the draft with only four picks. Enter general manager and Executive of the Year, John Schneider. After four trades, none of which required the loss of the first or second round selections, the Seahawks walked out with eight total picks.
TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 28: Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jaren Hamilton (16) breaks up an interception by Arizona Wildcats defensive back Michael Dansby (25) during the college football game between the Arizona Wildcats and the Arizona State Sun Devils on November 28, 2025 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
While commending the New York Giants for going best available instead of position of need, the same cannot be said for the rebuilding Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals went 3-14 last season. They released their quarterback, hired a first-time head coach (and Matt LaFleur’s brother), Mike LaFleur, and added Green Bay Packers’ defensive analyst and consultant Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator. So, while Jeremiyah Love may have been the best player available, was he the best player available for the rebuilding Cardinals? And while Love may be getting all the attention, their best pick and potential draft steal was getting Kaleb Proctor in the fourth round.